Diarist 19's household is one of the bigger ones we track. It is a traditional one, based originally on farming land they own bordering the river. When we started they were 9 in number: Diarist 19 himself, at that time about 60 years old, his wife, a married daughter with her husband and baby son, and the wife and baby of an adopted son who lives abroad. Also, a 17 year old daughter (then at home, not in school or work, subsequently married) and a 13 year old son (then in class 6). Another two daughters were married and living away. Diarist 19 and his wife are illiterate but the younger ones are schooled.
They have a third of an acre of farmland where he grows rice and lentils, and they sharecrop in another two-thirds of an acre and grow bananas. They also raise cows. They have a substantial old home on a fairly large plot. In March 2017 he and his wife opened a small restaurant at the nearby crossroads (he had once before run a food shop). Now he spends most of his time sitting in and supervising the shop, helped by his wife, one son-in-law who goes to market each day for supplies, of which the biggest element by far is beef, and one or two hired hands. Another son-in-law helps with the farming. See chart 05 for more on what is served in the restaurant.
He has had health problems as he has aged and by late 2025 he was going to the restaurant only to sit at the cash desk and keep an eye on things.
